Pokémon Go Minior is finally here, and trainers have a short window to add the Meteor Pokémon to their collections this month. The Pokémon Go team timed Minior’s debut to a Minior Shower event running Oct. 19-24, tying the in-game appearance to the real-life Orionids meteor shower, according to the official Pokémon Go announcement.
If you have never seen Minior in the wild before, that is because it has never appeared in Pokémon Go until now. This guide covers when to look for it, which core color is out this week, how it behaves in battle and what comes next.
Pokémon Go Minior Event Schedule
The Orionids Minior Shower runs from 5 p.m. local time Oct. 19 through 11:59 p.m. local time Oct. 24. Minior shows up more frequently in the wild from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time each day, when shooting stars also light up the in-game sky, so trainers hoping to fill out their Pokédex should plan their playtime around those evening hours rather than assuming Minior spawns at the same rate all day. Catching Minior also earns extra Stardust during the event.
This is the first of six Minior Showers on the calendar. The rest are:
- Leonids: Nov. 14-19
- Geminids: Dec. 11-16
- Eta Aquariids: May 3-8, 2027
- Southern Delta Aquariids: July 28 to Aug. 2, 2027
- Perseids: Aug. 10-15, 2027
Each shower starts at 5 p.m. and ends at 11:59 p.m. local time on its last day. The schedule follows the timing of actual astronomical meteor showers rather than a fixed in-game calendar, and the Pokémon Go team says Minior will appear during these showers each year.
What Minior Looks Like And How Its Forms Work
Minior appears in the wild in its Meteor Form, with a brown outer shell that hides a colored core underneath. The Rock/Flying-type Pokémon has seven core colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. One new color debuts during each meteor shower, except for the Geminids in December, when one color debuts in the Northern Hemisphere and a different one in the Southern Hemisphere. That means the version of Minior players catch this week won’t match every color coming in future showers.
Pokémon Go Hub reports that Green Core Minior is the color debuting during the Orionids.
Minior is not available as a shiny right now, so trainers should not expect a sparkle animation while hunting it during this event.
Minior Battle Forms Explained
Minior fights differently depending on how much health it has left. In its Meteor Form, which applies while its shell is intact, Minior has higher defense and lower attack. Once its HP drops below half, it shifts into its Core Form, trading that defense for a boost in attack instead.
For now, players will see this form change only in Go Battle League matches, in fights against Team Go Rocket members and in battles against team leaders. Anyone using Minior competitively should factor in that shift, since a Minior that looks defensive early in a fight can turn into a harder-hitting attacker once its shell cracks. Just note that Minior will not be eligible for the 2027 Latin America International Championships.
Tips For Catching Minior This Week
With the event closing out on Oct. 24 and spawns boosted only during the 5-9 p.m. local window, trainers who want multiple Minior encounters should check in during that evening stretch each day rather than waiting until the last day of the event.
Because each core color debuts during a specific meteor shower, this week is the first chance to grab this one. Miss it, and the next shot at a new color comes with the Leonids in November. Minior is set to return during these showers every year, but the Pokémon Go team has not said which colors will appear in later years.
What’s Next
The Oct. 19-24 Orionids event is Minior’s Pokémon Go debut and the first of six Minior Showers stretching into August 2027. The Leonids shower on Nov. 14-19 is next and will bring another new core color. Trainers should watch for official Pokémon Go announcements on which colors arrive with each shower, especially the two-color Geminids event in December.
Fans curious about other Pokémon collectibles can also read about how the LEGO Pokémon Smart Brick line is holding up six months in.
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